Molecular hydrogen supplementation in mice ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced loss of interest.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of hydrogen supplementation on inflammation-related psychiatric symptoms using a mouse model. Institute of Cancer Research mice received 30% hydrogen via jelly intake (40 g/day) for 7 days, followed by intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration at 5 mg/kg to induce depressive-like behavior. Behavioral assessments 24 hours post-LPS showed that spontaneous activity decline was attenuated in the hydrogen group. Social interaction testing revealed that reduced engagement with unfamiliar mice observed in LPS-only animals was absent in hydrogen-treated animals. The forced-swim test showed no significant between-group differences. Biochemically, LPS-induced reduction of zonula occludens-1, a tight junction protein at the cerebrovascular barrier, was prevented in the hydrogen group. These findings suggest hydrogen may selectively prevent loss of interest rather than broadly suppressing depressive-like behavior in this inflammation model.

Mechanism

Hydrogen supplementation may prevent LPS-induced loss of interest by preserving zonula occludens-1 expression at the cerebrovascular barrier tight junctions, thereby maintaining barrier integrity against inflammation-driven disruption.